con to all such railing
Rabshakehs. Robert Brown, knowing Mr. Peden, hastened to his horse,
being persuaded that his word would not fall to the ground; and fearing
also that some mischief might befal him in the said Hugh's company, he
hastened home to his own house, and the said Hugh to the earl's; and
casting off his boots, he was struck with a sudden sickness and pain
through his body, with his mouth wide open, and his tongue hanging out
in a fearful manner. They sent for the said Robert to take some blood
from him, but all in vain; for he died before midnight.

After this, in the year 1682, he married that singular christian John
Brown, at his own house in Priesthall (in the parish of Moor-kirk in
Kyle) upon one Mabel Weir. After marriage, he said to the bride Mabel,
You have got a good man to be your husband, but you will not enjoy him
long; prize his company, and keep linen by you to be his winding-sheet,
for ye will need it when ye are not looking for it, and it will be a
bloody one. Which sadly came to pass in the beginning of May 1685.

In the same year 1682, he went to Ireland again, and coming to the house
of William Steel in Glenwhary in the county of Antrim, he enquired at
Mrs. Steel, if she wanted a servant for threshing of victuals. She said,
They did, and asked what his wages were a-day and a-week. He said, The
common rate was a common rule. To which she assented. At night he was
put to bed in the barn with the servant lad, and that night he spent in
prayer and groaning. To-morrow he threshed with the lad, and the next
night he spent in the same way. The second day the lad said to his
mistress, This man sleeps none, but groans and prays all night; I can
get no sleep with him; he threshes very well and not sparing himself,
though I think he hath not been used to it, &c.; and when I put the
barn in order, he goes to such a place and prays for the afflicted
church of Scotland, and names so many people in the furnace, &c. He
wrought the second day; his mistress watched and overheard him praying,
as the lad had said. At night she desired her husband to enquire if he
was a minister: which he did, and desired him to be free with him, and
he should not only be no enemy to him but a friend. Mr. Peden said, he
was not ashamed of his office, and gave an account of his circumstances.
But he was no more set to work, or to lie with the lad. He staid some
considerable time in that place, and was a blessed instrument in